Match Report | Nottingham Forest 61 NIC Leeds Rhinos 51

By Tyler-Sue Chapman

NIC Leeds Rhinos suffer defeat 61-51 despite a third quarter comeback against Nottingham Forest away at Motorpoint arena. 

NIC Leeds Rhinos slotted away the first goal but both sides took a while to settle into the round three game. Uncharacteristic errors were made from both sides with neither side taking charge until Pechova for the home side stole possession which resulted in her side taking a two goal advantage. Baylis placed a bullet ball into Reed which gave the Rhinos an opportunity to slot away an Amex super shot. Reed utilised the post as the eighth player and slotted away another goal but it was the home side who held the advantage at the first break 15-11. 

Visser and Brown combined well to start off the second quarter but some unforced errors in attack allowed Forest to keep adding to the scoreboard. Harriet Jones entered the court at goal shooter with eleven minutes left of the first half. The ball moved up and down the court with possession flipping between both of the teams four times before Reed managed to slot a shot away 19-17. Jones slotted a super shot to re level the game at 21 a piece before Brown went down with injury. After a pause in play Yomi Wilson entered the court at GK to allow Brown to receive treatment off the court, NIC Rhinos entered the half time break three goals behind 26-23.

Forest entered the second half of the game strong and managed to put 6 goals onto the scoreboard before the Rhinos slotted a shot away five and a half minutes into the third quarter. Lauren Palmer made changes with Gordon returning to GS and Kilgallen entering the game at WA. Wilson created an intercept but there was too much on the pass down court and Forest continued to pull away. Jones returned to the court at goal shooter for the Amex super shot period with Reed moving to GA and Masser to WA. Jones had an impressive third quarter performance and slot away six Amex super shots but despite her masterclass the Rhinos were still behind by ten goals 46-36.

NIC Leeds Rhinos started the final period with clear intentions picking up possession through the court. Nottingham Forest were forced to call a tactical timeout after momentum had turned in favour of the visitors with the gap being just six points 48-42. Baylis showed impressive vision into the shooting circle but shooting successes from Jones and Reed weren’t enough to reduce the deficit. Defensive efforts from the home side allowed Forest to maintain the advantage and saw them take the win 61-51.

NIC Leeds Rhinos return home for their round four fixture against the LexisNexis Dragons on Friday 20th march at the Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield.

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Injury Report - Jaz Brown left the court in the 2nd quarter due to injury and was unable to return. Further updates on the severity of her injury will be made clear and communicated in due course.